Sourav Biswal, Head of Robotics and Computer Science, Orchids - The International School

Sourav is a passionate and motivated individual with a keen interest in upcoming tech related products. He is currently heading the robotics department in K12 Techno Services. He is looking after the content and kit development along with it the operational, financial aspects of the educational toys that are being currently developed. He managed and ideated the cs and robotics teaching online platform called EdRoboVate(Registered under K12 Techno Services).

 

Coding is the newest buzzword, and while there is a lot of noise around the world, there’s not a lot of understanding on what it really is, and why everyone wants to get on the bandwagon with it. Coding, simply put, is the method of communicating using a computer. It helps in creating computer applications, software and video games. When computers were first introduced as a subject in the school, the idea was to introduce technology to the students. With coding, schools go one-step ahead and equip students with the ability to use the technology.

Coding has become inevitable in the current world. The relevance of coding will be multiply manifold and would be integrated with all other streams in the STEM fields. We are seeing rapid expansion in the application of Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning and coding is an enabler for these fields. Starting from mobile phones to in-flight controls to outer space projects, all sectors have been impacted by this emerging tech.

Gone are the days where rote memorization was the norm of education. While there’s so much advancement in technology, it is important for the curriculum also to play catch-up, therefore ensuring that students are prepared for the way the world is  moving. There are apprehensions among parents that coding is adding a lot of burden on the students, coding is actually aimed at developing the thinking ability of the children, and helps them to deal with critical situations with creative solutions. Coding, in fact, has its own form of language, and languages; as we know helps children to learn communication by developing logical thinking.

Besides developing logical thinking, and other cognitive skills, coding has also been known to help children think creatively. Through experimenting with new codes, children learn and strengthen their development. Even making mistakes, teaches them. Children get the opportunity to be creative and creativity is part of this process rather than the outcome. Creativity, logical reasoning and cognitive skills are one aspect, but coding has also been known to help children with numeric skills too. With coding children will be able to visualize abstract concepts, and teach them to apply mathematics to real-world situations.

There is no field that is left untouched by coding. From mobile phones, biotech products, to reach the depths of the ocean and to reach and explore outer space, all fields have been touched by computer applications and coding. Even the fields of music, arts, dance, have been touched by robots. Many new job roles have opened up in recent times like big data, data analytics, SEO, data mining, etc that were non-existent a few years ago. In the future, there will be a lot of new job roles in the field of AI, ML that we possibly have not heard of now. And in the next 4-5 years, we will definitely require smart machines running robust systems (with coding) to achieve advancement. So coding is the future.

The schools catering to the present generation need to look at teaching coding in the school to help them prepare for technological advancements happening in the world. Coding can be easily taught as a part of the curriculum at schools, by designing concepts of the basics. It is simple to learn for the students and when taught in the classes at school, which is why there is a growing popularity in teaching coding as a part of the curriculum. Schools are no longer just educating children with the basics, but equipping them to face challenges and become all-rounders. It also gives the children a chance to explore their interests from an early age.

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